Washing machine



y 4, 1929. JQA. DIETENBERGER 1,712,755

WASHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 8, 1926 Jbs 9 1: A. Dieter; be! r Diver: or

A Ltorneys Patented May 14, 1929. I

UNITED STATES.

1,712,755 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. DIETENBEBfi-ER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO; ASBIGNOR TO JAMES B. KIHBY,

' OF WEST BICHFIELD, OHIO.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed November 8, 1926. Serial No. 146,954.

This invention relates to washing machines and has for its object the provision of a new, improved and simplified device of this character which shall wash and scrub the cloth- -ing fabrics in a peculiarly efiicient manner and this without tearing or injuring the same. Among the features of my improved washing machine are a new and peculiar ty e of oscillating agitator and a new and simp ified operating mechanism.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application I have shown certain physical forms in which my inventive idea can be embodied although it will be understood that these are intended to be illustrative of the principles of my invention rather than exhaustive or limiting as to the details of construction. Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View through a Washing machine containing my improvements; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one form of my improved agitator drawn to enlarged scale; F1g. 3 1s a sectional view corresponding to the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 3 is a partial view showing a modified shape of agitator blade; Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the shield ring shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the machine with the legs broken away; and Fig. 6 is a View of a modified form of agitator.

My improved washing machine consists essentially of a tub havin upright sides 1, bottom 2 preferably circu ar in outline and supported on a suitable frame which here consists of an annular part 3 having legs 4 and radial arms 5 connected to a central hub 6, one of the arms being broadened as shown at 5 to constitute a support for an electric motor 7. Threaded in a central aperture in the hub is an upright hollow sleeve 8 and in the present embodiment the bottom 2 of the tub is apertured for thepassage of this sleeve and is clamped to the top of the hub by means of a nut 9 screwed on the sleeve exterior, a packing 10 being employed against the tub to prevent leakage. By supporting the outer portion of the tub bottom on suitable blocks 11 carried by the frame,and drawing downwardly the central portion of the tub is seated tightly by the elasticity of the metal.

Rotatably mounted in the sleeve 8 is an upright shaft 12 having a prismatic upper end 13 to which is applied my improved agitator. This in its preferred form comprises a narrow upright part 14, generally slightly tapered, if for no other reason than to facilitate manufacture, and a plurality of radial blades 15 projecting therefrom. The lower end of the part 14 and also the blades merge with a laterally projecting circular disk 16 whose topv is preferably corrugated in slant sided-humps. The lateral edge of this disk is circular and all radial corrugation is avoided, but the top of the disk exhibits a series of troughs 17 alternating with humps 18. In the present embodiment the humps are perpendicular to the axis and the troughs inchned, the latter oining the cylindrical outer wall 19 slightly above its lower edge to produce a continuous lower rim or marginal flange 20.. The upright part is hollowed out to fit loosely over the sleeve 8, its uppermost partbeing formed with a socket which closely receives the prismatic end 13, also this part 15 preferably made air tight so that even if the level of the washing liquid be higher than the sleeve 8, the pocketing of air inside the agitator will prevent leakage even though the shaft fit loosely in that sleeve.

In order to prevent clothes from working in beneath the agitator I have shown two expedients, each alone generally sufficient for the purpose. The first is to surround the rim 20 with a narrow circular metal guard 21 which closely fits the dolly. This can be made with spokes 22 radiating from a hub 23 introduced below the nut 9. Its outer wall may be slanted if desired and its lower part notched as at 24 to facilitate drainage. The other expedient consists of introducing a sheet or plate 25 of metal into the bottom of the agitator so as to prevent agitation of the liquid beneath the same as the agitator is oscillated.

I have had best success using three blades 15, proJecting radially at equal angles. it is especially important that these extend radially from the part 14.. They may even be enlarged near the top with good eflect as shown at 15 in Fig. 3.

Means are provided to oscillate said agitator sharply about its axis through an angle at least as great as the angle between adjacent blades 15. One such means is shown in Fig. 5. A disk or crank plate is fastened to the lower end of the shaft 12 and a worm wheel 31 is pivoted to a stud 32 and meshed with a worm 33 on the shaft of the motor 7. Pitmans 34 and 35 are pivoted to pins on the faces of the plate 30 and wheel 31 respectively and their free ends are ai'ticulated to the free end of the link 36 pivoted at 3'] in such wise as to produce a three toggle jomt. The angular movement pitm'an 34 due to its connection to .the link 36 so postpones the dead center position of the pitm'an relative to the crank 30 as to enable an angular movement up to 180 without undue strain. Of course other mechanical movements could be used but I show this because of itssimplicity.

In use the tub is supplied with abrics and liquid sufficient to thoroughly submerge the disk 16 without submerging the part 14. The device works best when a substantial amount of fabrics are present, in which case the upw'ardly acting agitation caused by the bumps 16, 17, 18, together with the radial action caused by the blades 15 causes a slow movement of the clothes or fabrics in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1. The agitator is oscillated at such a speed that the bladesmay ive a definite kick to the clothes which being held by the mass of clothes outside receive a kind of kneading and rubbing action comparable to that produced by human knuckles and a wash board. Starting with a tub full of soiled fabrics a ring of clean fabrics is soon observed rising along the part 14 and making way for others. Sleeves are often turned inside out in the process and a very thorough washing is always produced, even of such diflicult parts as cuffs and collar-bands.

The action is not so good whenan inade uate charge of clothing is introduced since t e-same are merel agitated in the liquid without receiving t e rubbing or kneading action.

Changes can be made in the form of the agitator without departing from my invention. For example the disk 16 can be made plain as shown at 16 in Fig. 6 in which this disk is a sheet metal plate soldered to the bottom of the sheet metal upright 15, and the blades 15 are made of wood, and terminate short of the edge of the plate. The agitator shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is a casting, and it will hence be obvious that many changes in this part as well as in the driving element can be made.

' I have shown no wringer for the reason that any suitable or desired type of wringwith slant sided humps rising from said disk.

2. In a washing machine, a container, an agitator supports in said container upon a vertical axis, and means for oscillating said agitator about its axis, said-agitator comprising a disk which is circular in plan and is located closely adjacent the bottom of said container, the u per face of said disk being formed with a p urality of evenly spaced, radially-extending, slant-sided humps which merge directly into each other.

3. In a washing machine, a container, an agitator supported in said container upon a vertical axis, means for oscillating said agitator about its axis, and means for preventing theentrance of clothes beneath said agitator, said agitator comprising a disk which is circular in plan and is located closely adjacent the bottom of said container, the up 1' face of said disk having a central hub an having a plurality of evenly spaced radial humps extending therefrom, each vertical circumferential section of said disk outside of its hub conforming substantially to a sine wave.

4. In a washing machine, in combination, a tub having a vertical bearing traversing its bottom, an upright shaft journaled therein, an oscillating agitator removably attached to said shaft, said agitator having a circular disk which extends laterally beneath the clothes and liquid, a circular guard having an apertured centre secured to said bearing and closely engaging the tub bottom, said ard having a rim overlapping the edge 0 said disk, and mechanism beneath said tub for oscillating said shaft, said guard having drainage provisions.

5. In a washing machine, in combination, a tub having a vertical bearing in its bottom, an upright shaft journaled therein, an oscillating agitator removably attached to said shaft, said agitator having a circular disk pro ecting laterally from said shaft and closey overlying the tub bottom, angularly s aced radial lades rojecting from said ody, means for oscil ating said shaft, and a circular guard secured to said bearing and closely engaging the tub bottom and having a rim overlapping the edge of said disk.

6. An oscillating agitator for washing machines comprising a circular disk, having an uneven surface on its upper face and having a substantially even surface on its lower face and also having an air space between said faces.

I. An oscillating agitator for washing machines comprising a circular disk having on its upper face one or more upwardl rising humps which are hollow beneath, an means located in the bottom of said disk which cover the open bottoms of said humps and define a substantially even surface.

8. An oscillating agitator for washing machines comprising a circular disk hav' its upper face one or more upwardly rising the open bottoms of said humps and define 4 a substantially even surface.

9; In a washing machine,-in combination,

a tub, an oscillating agitator having a circular disk overlying the tub bottom, slant-sided, radially-extending humps rising from said disk, and a circular detachable guard carried by the .tub bottom and closely embracing the edge of said disk.

10. In a washing machine, in combination, a tub, an oscillating agitator havin a circular disk overlying the tub bottom, t e margin of said disk having a depending flange and the top of said disk having one or more humps, and a circular detachable guard carried by the tub bottom and closely overlapping one face of said flange.

11. In a washing machine, in combination,

a tub, an upright bearing sleeve in the bottom thereof, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, an oscillating agitator carried b said shaft and having a circular disk over appin the tub bottom, the margin of said disk aving a depending flange and the top of said web having one or more humps, a circular guard havin a rim which overlaps closely one face of sai flange said guard havin a Web which is apertured or said sleeve, an means securing said web to said sleeve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOSEPH A. DIETENBERGER.

DISCLAIMER 'l,712,755.-J0seph A. Dietenberger, Cleveland, Ohio. WA'SHING MACHINE.

dated May 14, 1929 Patent Disclaimer filed February 4, 1939, by the trustee,

The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, and the assignee, Industrial Improaements Incorporated.

Hereby disclaim claim 1 from the specification of said patent.

[Ojficz'al Gazette March 14, 1939.] 

